Abstract
Small RNAs are class of 19-25 nucleotide RNAs, designated as miRNAs and siRNAs. They are considered to have important roles for various scenes, and, recently, gene suppression mechanisms controlled by them are getting clear. In this study, we performed identification and characterization of novel small RNAs associated with anther development in rice.
A cDNA library of small RNAs was constructed using mRNAs of mature anther. By sequencing of randomly selected clones, we obtained approximately 40 candidates having the stem-loop structure, characteristic of miRNA. The candidates included two known small RNAs, miR166 and miR167. These two miRNAs expressed and accumulated in the developing anther, suggesting that gene suppression mechanism controlled by small RNAs exists also in a course of anther differentiation and maturation in rice.
For further characterization of novel small RNAs, we are continuing to isolation and expression analysis in rice anther.
